Abstract: An ink set includes a pre-treatment fixing fluid including at least two metal salts and a fixable, ultraviolet (UV) curable ink. The UV curable ink includes an aqueous ink vehicle, a pigment dispersed in the aqueous ink vehicle, and a dispersant. A polyurethane polymer dispersion is suspended as droplets within the aqueous ink vehicle. The polyurethane polymer dispersion includes a polyurethane polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyether-based polyurethane, a polyester-based polyurethane, a polycarbonate-based polyurethane, and mixtures thereof. The polyurethane polymer has i) an acid number ranging from 0 mg/g to less than 20 mg/g and ii) a glass transition temperature of less than 0 C. A water soluble or water dispersible photoinitiator is present in the pre-treatment fixing fluid or in the fixable, UV curable ink.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: An ink set includes a pre-treatment fixing fluid including at least two metal salts and a fixable, ultraviolet (UV) curable ink. The UV curable ink includes an aqueous ink vehicle, a pigment dispersed in the aqueous ink vehicle, and a dispersant. A polyurethane polymer dispersion is suspended as droplets within the aqueous ink vehicle. The polyurethane polymer dispersion includes a polyurethane polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyether-based polyurethane, a polyester-based poly-urethane, a polycarbonate-based polyurethane, and mixtures thereof. The polyurethane polymer has i) an acid number ranging from 0 mg/g to less than 20 mg/g and ii) a glass transition temperature of less than 0 C. A water soluble or water dispersible photoinitiator is present in the pre-treatment fixing fluid or in the fixable, UV curable ink.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides ink sets and related methods mix color gloss uniformity. The ink set can include a black ink with a black pigment having a particle size of about 14 nm to about 16 nm, a DBP absorption of about 80 ml/100 g to about 350 ml/100 g, and a BET surface area of about 160 m2/g to about 1600 m2/g. The ink set can also include pigmented magenta ink, pigmented cyan ink, and pigmented yellow ink. As a whole, the ink set can have a mix color gloss uniformity of at least 7.

Abstract: An inkjet ink composition includes: from 0.25 to 6 weight percent colorant; from 7 to 40 weight percent solvent; from 0.05 to 5 weight percent surfactant; and polyurethane binder in an amount of at least 0.5 weight percent of the inkjet ink composition but not more than twice the weight percent of the colorant. The polyurethane binder has a molecular weight from 32 K to 50 K and an acid number from 40 to 45. The polyurethane binder includes polyether polyol, aliphatic isocyanate and an acid group and does not include chain extenders.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides ink sets and related methods mix color gloss uniformity. The ink set can include a black ink with a black pigment having a particle size of about 14 nm to about 16 nm, a DBP absorption of about 80 ml/100 g to about 350 ml/100 g, and a BET surface area of about 160 m2/g to about 1600 m2/g. The ink set can also include pigmented magenta ink, pigmented cyan ink, and pigmented yellow ink. As a whole, the ink set can have a mix color gloss uniformity of at least 7.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides inks, ink sets, and method for manufacturing inkjet inks. The inkjet ink comprises a colorant; a liquid vehicle; a surfactant; and a polyurethane binder, the polyurethane binder including polymerized monomers of a polyether polyol, a diisocyanate, and an acid polyol, where the polyurethane binder has a Mw from about 35K to 50K and an acid number from 51 to 60.

Abstract: An inkjet ink composition includes: from 0.25 to 6 weight percent colorant; from 7 to 40 weight percent solvent; from 0.05 to 5 weight percent surfactant; and polyurethane binder in an amount of at least 0.5 weight percent of the inkjet ink composition but not more than twice the weight percent of the colorant. The polyurethane binder has a molecular weight from 32 K to 50 K and an acid number from 40 to 45. The polyurethane binder includes polyether polyol, aliphatic isocyanate and an acid group and does not include chain extenders.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: An ink jet recording sheet is provided that delivers a photoparity image when printed with ink jet printer. The recording sheet comprises a two-layer coating. The bottom layer comprises amorphous silica and the top layer comprises spherical colloidal silica. Both silicas are rendered cationic. The recording sheet provides fast dry time, excellent image quality and superior water resistance and handle ability.

Abstract: A method of treating silica in an aqueous environment includes dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion, reversing a net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using an inorganic treating agent to form surface-activated silica particulates, and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with monoaminoorganosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a media sheet for ink-jet printing and can comprise a media substrate and a coating composition applied to the media substrate to form an ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer can include semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates, at least 5 wt % of a water soluble coating formulation additive, and a binder. The media sheet can also have a wash conductivity less than about 80 microsiemens/cm, said wash conductivity determined by measuring the conductivity of a 50 mL bath of deionized water after placing a 100 cm2 sample of the media sheet in the deionized water for 45 seconds at room temperature under agitation.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of preparing a porous media substrate, comprising combining metal or semi-metal oxide particulates with a polymeric binder, wherein the metal or semi-metal oxide particulates are associated with at least one water soluble coating formulation additive. At least a portion of the water soluble coating formulation additive i) is in the form of unreacted additive, or ii) generates undesired electrolytes. Additional steps include removing at least a portion of the unreacted additive or undesired electrolytes, either before or after combining the metal or semi-metal oxide particulates with the polymeric binder, thereby forming a refined coating composition; and applying the refined coating composition to a media substrate to form an ink-receiving layer having a porous surface.

Abstract: An inkjet receiver layer is constructed of an alumina-containing layer also containing a binder with an essentially binder-free, colloidal, cationic silica top-coat. The colloidal cationic silica topcoat provides improved image quality (color gamut and gloss) and increased resistance to scratching, while maintaining a high absorption of ink.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of preparing a porous media substrate, comprising combining metal or semi-metal oxide particulates with a polymeric binder, wherein the metal or semi-metal oxide particulates are associated with at least one water soluble coating formulation additive. At least a portion of the water soluble coating formulation additive i) is in the form of unreacted additive, or ii) generates undesired electrolytes. Additional steps include removing at least a portion of the unreacted additive or undesired electrolytes, either before or after combining the metal or semi-metal oxide particulates with the polymeric binder, thereby forming a refined coating composition; and applying the refined coating composition to a media substrate to form an ink-receiving layer having a porous surface.

Abstract: An inkjet ink having reduced bronzing. The inkjet ink includes a pigment and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, a polymer hydrosol, a latex, a silica colloid, a titanium oxide pigment, and mixtures thereof. The at least one additive is selected to provide reduced bronzing to the inkjet ink.

Abstract: A method of treating silica in an aqueous environment includes dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion, reversing a net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using an inorganic treating agent to form surface-activated silica particulates, and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with monoaminoorganosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.